I was invited to attend a meeting as an "Islamic scholar" (help me God!). At the end of the meeting they had invited a singer who played keyboard and sang very soft and soothing songs in praise of love. I could see that he was feeling uncomfortable and a bit shy to play and sing in front of me (not that I had a scary look!).
When his singing ended and he was trying to collect his things quickly and escape, I approached him. I could see in his eyes that he was thinking "this man with long beard is now going to tell me about the forbiddance and evil of music and singing". I think he was quite surprised to hear what I said to him: "Brother, take pride in what you are doing, art is precious and those who see or hear it should feel privileged", and I meant every word of it.
I wrote some where: "Expressing artistic works in my view is one of the most powerful and beautiful illustrations of the love of a servant for his Creator."
Art is a handicap version of creation. The biggest artist of all times is God. I find expressions like
الَّذِى خَلَقَكَ فَسَوَّئكَ فَعَدَلَكَ
فىِ أَىِّ صُورَةٍ مَّا شَاءَ رَكَّبَك
(82:7,8)
very artistic expressions.
Beside many other things, one of the differences between human being and animals is that human beings can be artists, and can appreciate art, animals can't!
When I see an artist or see a piece of art, I am reminded of the Hadith that says God made human being in His own image. Every piece of art and its beauty, accuracy, glory and harmony points towards the one who is the source of art.
Ability to relate to art (either creating it, or appreciating it or both), to me, is a signature of our Creator on our soul.
When his singing ended and he was trying to collect his things quickly and escape, I approached him. I could see in his eyes that he was thinking "this man with long beard is now going to tell me about the forbiddance and evil of music and singing". I think he was quite surprised to hear what I said to him: "Brother, take pride in what you are doing, art is precious and those who see or hear it should feel privileged", and I meant every word of it.
I wrote some where: "Expressing artistic works in my view is one of the most powerful and beautiful illustrations of the love of a servant for his Creator."
Art is a handicap version of creation. The biggest artist of all times is God. I find expressions like
الَّذِى خَلَقَكَ فَسَوَّئكَ فَعَدَلَكَ
فىِ أَىِّ صُورَةٍ مَّا شَاءَ رَكَّبَك
(82:7,8)
very artistic expressions.
Beside many other things, one of the differences between human being and animals is that human beings can be artists, and can appreciate art, animals can't!
When I see an artist or see a piece of art, I am reminded of the Hadith that says God made human being in His own image. Every piece of art and its beauty, accuracy, glory and harmony points towards the one who is the source of art.
Ability to relate to art (either creating it, or appreciating it or both), to me, is a signature of our Creator on our soul.
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